Cuff-press.



w. BARTHOLOMEW.

CUFF PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 22. 1913.

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' CUFF PRESS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 22. 1913.

Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- WILLIAM BARTHOLOMEW, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO TROY LAUNDRY MACHINERY COMPANY, LTD., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF NEWv YORK.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 24, 1915.

Application filed December 22, 1913. Serial No. 808,215.

ing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and.

State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cuff-Presses, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates in general to laundry machinery, and more particularly to presses for cuffs, or other articles.

In the operation of' laundry presses considerable power is required in order that the requisite pressure may be' applied to the articles. The operation of such presses by foot or hand power involves so much physical exertion on the part of the operators as to render their use'exceedingly fatiguing. On the other hand, the operation of such presses by mechanical power is likely to involve danger of injury to the operators in case of carelessness in applying the articles to the presses.

The primary object of my invention is to provide a fluid pressure operated press for calls, or other articles, which will be so simple in operation as to require novmore skill than that possessed by the ordinary laundry employee; which will reduce to a minimum danger of injury to the operator; and which will apply suflicient pressure to the articles to impart to them the desired finish.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved cuff press which will be eflicient' in use, simple in operation, and durable in construction.

My invention will be more fully disclosed hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same is illustrated as embodied in a convenient and practical form, and in which- Figure 1 is a front elevational view; Fig. 2 a side elevational view looking from the right in Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 an enlarged sectional view through one of the controlling valves.

Similar reference characters are used to designate similar parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In thedrawings I have shown a double type of press which permits the alternate pressing operation of the two presses, but as the pressing and operating mechanism are exactly the same for both presses, a description of one will be sufficient. .I have shown my invention as applied to a press of the type covered by Patent No. 1,054,269, granted to me on February 25, 1913. It will, however, be understood that my invention 1s capable of application to other forms of presses than that covered by my said prior patent.

Reference character A designates a supporting base having a standard B supporting at lts upper end pressing heads C havmg the usual form of steam chests and hot shoes D. v

Extending outwardly from the standard B is a bracket E in which is fixed a horizontal shaft F by means of set screws f. Upon the shaft F are mounted oscillatory supports G by means of sleeves g loosely surrounding the shaft. Each of the supports G is provided with a post G projecting upwardly therefrom upon which is secured a plunger H located within the lower portion of a cylindrical chamber H. The chamber H comprises upper and lower circular members between which is secured an annular partition it. Secured between the upper and lower surfaces of the partition 72. and the top and bottom members of the chamber H aretwo diaphragms K and K, the latter of which rests upon the plunger H. Resting upon the upper diaphragm K is a plunger H inclosed within the upper portion of the chamber H. The plungers H and H are preferably circular and of a diameter slightly greater than the diameter of the opening in the partition h. i

A rod Gr is secured at its lower end to the plunger H and is screw-threaded at its upper end to engage an interiorly screw-' threaded sleeve L having oppositely disposed arms Z and Z upon which are mounted arms m and m of the base portion m of the goods support M. The goods support M is provided with a steam chest and a pad M conforming in shape to the under surface of the .head'C, in the usual manner. A handle M is provided for swinging the support M into and out of vertical alinement with the cooperating head C. The sleeve L is vertically adjustable upon the supporting rod G by means of adjusting nuts I in the usual manner.

Secured to the rod G above the plunger H is a collar N from which project in opposite directions arms n and 01?, which are guided by rods N, N upwardlyprojecting from the upper member of the chamber in order to so connect the chamber with the rod G? as to prevent relative lateral movement. The lower member of the chamber H is rigidly connected to the support G by means ofrods O and connected to oppositely projecting arms 0 and 0 at the top of In order to more securely support the shaft F each end thereof is surrounded by a bearing F secured thereto by set screw f each of such bearings being supported at the upper end of a rod f which is mounted upon the base A.

R designates a conduit leading from a source of fluid pressure supply, such for instance as a supply of compressed air. Connected with the conduit R by means of a T-coupling is a cross conduit r, at the opof which are supported valve casings-R. Within each valve casing is a rotary plug S for controlling a supply of fluid pressure to a conduit R communicating through the partition 71. with the space be-. tween the diaphragms K and K The valve S may be of any suitable construction, such for instance as that illustrated in Fig. 3.

Connected with the valve stem 8 is an arm t which is connected by means of a link at with a lever t rigidly secured at its lower end to a treadle T, the latter being fulcrumed at T upon the base A. A spring T is interposed between the treadle T and the base and tends to swing the treadle into the position shown in full lines in Fig. adjustable stop screw T at the inner end of the treadle T serves to limit the oscillation of the treadle by the spring T.

U designates a latch for retaining the treadle T in its lower position against the tension of the spring T such latch being fulcrumed at U to'the base A and provided with a notch a, which engages the adjacent edge of the treadle when the latter is depressed. The upper end u of the latch overhangs the fulcrum so as to serve as a weight to automatically oscillate the latch into poposite ends sition to engage the treadle.

steam supply and' which V designates a conduit leading from a is connected through suitable pipes and couplings with the steam, chests of the head C and goods supports M, in the manner fully described and illustrated in my said prior Patent No. 1,054,269.

W designates a goods supporting table which is mounted upon a rod to adjustably supported in a bracket w carried by the supporting bracket E.

The operation of my improved press is as follows; Assuming that the goods support is pressing against the overlying head C, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2, and at the right in Fig. 1, and it is desired to withdraw the goods support from contact with the head for the purpose of removing the pressed article and putting thereon another article to bepressed, a downward pressure is applied by the foot to the treadle T, thereby oscillating the valve S from the position shown in Fig. 3 in full lines to that shown in dotted lines, thereby connecting the passageway 0*, which cormnunicates with the conduit R with the exhaust opening 1' through the medium of the straight passageway s in the valve. In such position of the valve the passage 1", which communicates with the supply conduit, is closed. The fluid pressure is consequently exhausted from the space between the diaphragms K, K so that the weight of the goods support forces the plunger H downwardly into contact with the upper surface of the annular partition h, and forces such partition down wardly so that its under surface rests upon the lower plunger H. In such downward movement of the partition the chamber H of course always moves downwardly with respect to the plunger H. The goods support thereby drops downwardly out of contact with the head and may be swung outwardly to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 and in full lines at the left of Fig. 1. The article already pressed may then be removed and another article placed thereon. Immediately upon the depression of the treadle it is automatically retained in such depressed position by the latch U, thereby maintaining the connection with the exhaust of the space between the diaphragms.

After the article to be pressed has been placed upon the goods support, the latter is swung into alinement with the cooperating head and the latch oscillated by the toe of the operator to the position shown at the right in Fig. 1, thereby releasing the treadle so that the spring T oscillates the same to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2. Such oscillation of the treadle oscillates the valve S to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 3, thereby bringing the passages s and s therein into registry with the supply port 1", and the port 1' communicating with the conduit R Fluid pressure then passes to the space between the diaphragms and first lifts the upper diaphragm until the plunger H engages the under surface of the mars upper member of the chamber H, and then lifts the chamber the inner surface of the lower member thereof engages the plunger H. The movements of the two diaphragms forces the goods support toward the head and exerts the requisite pressure upon the interposed article. After the article been subjected to the pressure for a sufiicient interval to impart to it the desired finish, the treadle is again depressed to actuate the valve and allow the pressure to exhaust from the space between the diaphragms, after which the goods support is swung out and the article removed therefrom preparatory to placing a new article thereon;

From the foregoing description it will be observed that I have invented an improved fluid pressure operated press, particularly adapted for pressing Iaundried articles, such for instance as ends, but also capable of other uses, in which the pressure is applied to the desired extent without imposing upon the operator any physical exertion, other than that necessary to operate the controlling valve. It will be further seen that by my improvement the press may be operated in a simple manner and without danger of injury to the operator.

claim 1. In a press of the character described, the combination with a fixed pressure member, of a coiipel'ating movable pressure member, a diaphragm operativcly connected to said movable pressure member for moving the same into and out of engagement with the fixed pressure member, a valve for controlling the supply and exhaust of fluid pressure to and from said diaphragm, a treadle connected to said valve to move the same into supply and exhaust positions, a spring engaging said treadle to move the same in one direction, and a latch for automatically locking said treadle in its dcpressed position. 7

2. In a press of the character described, the combination with a fixed pressure member, of a coiiperating movable pressure memher, a shaft comprising alined sections upon one end of which said movable pressure member is supported, an expansible chamber composed of two diaphragms united at their peripheries interposed between the adjacent ends of the sections of said shaft, plungers fixed to said ends of the sections of the shaft engaging the adjacent diaphragms, and means for supplying and exhausting fluid pressure to and item the space between said.

diaphragms.

3. In a press of the character described, the combination with a fixed pressure member, of a. cor'iperating movable pressure member, a shaft comprising alined sections upon one end of which said movable pressure member is supported, :11 for pivotally supporting the opposite end-of said shaft whereby the same may be oscillated to swing said movable pressure member into and out of registry with the fixed pressure member, a diaphragm interposed between the adjacent ends of the sections of said. shafts, means extending around said diaphragm and connected to the adjacent ends of the sections of said to support mid sections in alinement, but to permit their relative amal movement, and for supplying and exhausting fiuid pressure to and from said diaphragm.

4. In a press of the character described, the combination with a fixed pressure member, of a coiiperating movable pressure member, a. shaft on one end of which said movable pressure member is supported, a. plunger secured to the other end of said shaft, a diaphragm upon which said plunger rests, a second diaphragm secured to said first diaphragm and forming therewith a fluid pressure chamber, a second plunger upon which said second diaphragm rests, means for supporting said second plunger, means extending around said diaphragm and said plungers to support them in alinement, but to permit their relative axial movement,

and means for supplying and exha fluid presure to and iron; the chamber be tween said diaphragms.

5. In a press of the character described, the combination with a fixed pressure member, of a coiiperating movable pressure memher, a shaft on one end of which saidmovable pressure member is supported, a plunger secured to the other end of said shaft, a diaphragm upon which said plunger rests, a second diaphragm secured to said first diaphragm and forming therewith a fluid pressure chamber, a secondplunger upon which said second diaphragm rests, means for supporting said second plunger, a. partition between said diaphragms having an op therethrough of less size than the surfaces of said plungers which engage said diaphragms, and means for. supplying and exhausting fluid pressure to and hem the chamber between said diaphragms.

6. In a press of the character described,

the combination with a fixed prcmre member, of a coiiperating movable. ressure memher, a. shaft on one end of which said movable pressure member is supported, a plunger secured to the other end of said shaft, a diaphragm upon which said plunger rests, a second diaphragm secured to said first diaphragm and forming therewith a fluid pressure chamber, a mcond plunger upon which said second diaphragm rests, means for sup porting said second plunger, a casing surrounding said diaphragms and inclosing said plungers, a partitipn intermediate of said diaphragms and rigidly supported said casmg,saidservingtotho outward movement of the plungers by said diaphragms, and means for supplying and exhausting fluid pressure to and from the chamber between said diaphragms.

7. In a press of the character described, the combination with a fixed pressure member, of a cooperating movable pressure member, an oscillatory shaft upon the upper end of which said movable pressure member is supported, means for pivotally supporting the lower end of said shaft whereby said shaft may be oscillated to swing said movable pressure member into and out of registry with said fixed pressure member, said,

shaft comprising two alined sections, a cylindrical casing surrounding the adjacent ends of the sections of said shaft, a partition in said casing in a plane transverse to said shaft, diaphragms within said casing menses to limit the movement of said plungers toward each other, and the walls of said casing serving to limit the movement of said plungers away from each other, and means for supplying and exhausting fluid pressure to and from the space between said diaphragms.

In testimony whereof, I have subscribed my name.

WILLIAM BARTHOLOMEW.

Witnesses:

C. M. LEARY, D. S. MANN. 

